Leeds Railway Station to Receive Major Mobile Signal Boost Under National Blackspot Initiative

Passengers travelling through Leeds Station are set to benefit from a major digital upgrade aimed at eliminating mobile signal blackspots across the UK rail network.

The Department for Transport has launched Project Reach, a nationwide plan to drastically improve mobile connectivity along key train routes and stations. The initiative, backed by public and private sector investment, includes upgrades at 12 railway stations—Leeds among them.

Led by telecoms providers Neos Networks and Freshwave in partnership with Network Rail, the project will see the installation of over 1,000km of ultra-fast fibre optic cable along major routes including the East Coast and West Coast Main Lines. The long-term aim is to expand this to over 5,000km of coverage.

Signal blackspots—often experienced in train tunnels and rural routes—will also be addressed, with Freshwave tackling 57 tunnels across the country.

According to the Department for Transport, the infrastructure improvements are expected to save taxpayers approximately £300 million. Meanwhile, mobile operators will roll out 4G and 5G services at the upgraded stations.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander described the announcement as a “game-changer,” saying it would both improve travel for passengers and support broader goals of economic growth and digital innovation.

Work is set to begin next year, with full completion expected by 2028.